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When I was a kid, Sunday night television started after dinner with Walt Disney, then shows my parents liked. Saturday and Sunday nights were the family nights because dad worked 3 – 11. There were great shows back then, that, even as a child, I enjoyed too. It was quality writing and acting. The Defenders, Perry Mason and others, but my favorite was always Maverick.

The situations in which brothers Brett, Bart and Beau would find themselves were always entertaining.

Over the years, and different television series I finally realized what I really liked was a certain kind of character. It was that nice guy who would really rather not get involved but who had a moral and ethical center that always made him do the right thing. And there was a lovely lady in distress… like it or not, they always came to the rescue.

I think of that character as the Brett Maverick, Jim Rockford, Travis McGee personality. But nobody did it better than James Garner as Brett Maverick.
He passed away a couple days ago and I was genuinely saddened.

While I sat at the computer and thought of the many different roles he played on television and in film, I decided to go to Wikipedia to check it out. I’ll give you the link in case you would like to visit yourself, but here, in a very impressive nutshell are his numbers:
He starred in several television series over more than five decades, most notably Maverick and The Rockford Files,
Garner also starred in more than 50 films, including The Great Escape (1963), The Americanization of Emily (1964), Grand Prix (1966), Blake Edwards’ Victor Victoria (1982), Murphy’s Romance (1985), for which he received an Academy Award nomination, Space Cowboys (2000), and The Notebook (2004).

Pretty impressive body of work.

He always had that sly smile that made you feel like you were on the inside of an inside joke. You almost could not help but like him. They don’t make many like James Garner. I’m certainly glad I could enjoy his talents during my lifetime. So long, Jim…

Being from Southwest Ohio we are always proud when a hometown boy or girl makes good. But every once in awhile, there is a true standout; a talent so immense it puts us on the map. From the town of Dayton, the outstanding talents have always been Phil Donahue, Erma Bombeck and Jonathan Winters. Mr. Winters passed away, at 87, last week but will be remembered as a comic legend.

After dropping out of school to join the military, Winters began his comedy career in the late 40’s. Soon after, he began to disk Jockey on Dayton radio station WING and his comic pieces soon followed. He was the original morning funny man, years before Bob and Tom. He eventually moved to New York City in 1954 and, as they say, a legend was born.

Over the years, Winters made tons of television appearances, movies, and more than 20 albums. He won many awards from a Grammy to the Mark Twain prize. To illustrate Winter’s brilliance, the Tonight Show host, Jack Paar once said, “If you were to ask me to name the funniest 25 people I’ve ever known, I’d say, ‘Here they are — Jonathan Winters’.”

Our thoughts are with the family, but right now, all the inhabitants of heaven are busting a gut.

Once again, your cracked news reporters, Usedtoy and Suburbanhobo, have searched the world for the strangest stories making headlines. This week there is such a plethora of wackiness, we are leaving out more than we are including. Therre are stories about a dress made out of bacon, inmates smuggling items in to the lock-up in places you don’t even want to think about (We have pictures), old girlfriends beating new girlfriends in bed with old boyfriends, and more. So for you edification we present Weird Wednesday at Bolognabrain.com.

When G. David Howard set the world record in The Guinness Book of World Records for “cracking jokes unremittingly for 16 hours”, (that’s 16 hours straight, without a break of any kind, and without repeating one joke) he became known as “the funniest man alive”.

G. David has been a family friend since Suburbanhobo was a kid and Usedtoy was still in diapers. He has been a headline comedian in top Las Vegas and Atlantic City Showrooms and has opened for major recording artists and concert attractions from coast to coast.

Critics have commented that “He is just plain funny!” A pure “entertainer”, with the natural gift of “funny”.

Starting tomorrow, he will be bringing his topical humor and political observations to Bolognabrain.com and we could not be more pleased or proud.

We are looking forward to his irreverent insights and opinions and invite you to visit BB often or, better yet, subscribe so as not to miss his comedic, to the point, remarks.

Starting Friday, July 27th, look for G. David Howard on Bolognabrain.com… and tell your friends.

Since I was a pre-teen, I have loved Monty Python. I loved the show when it used to appear on PBS and then I loved the movies. Long ago, when I was on the road with my band Used Toys, we actually carried a copy of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Since those days Monty Python has made their way in to main stream culture with a Broadway hit based on their comedy. Now the legendary comedy troop may have a reunion of sorts. John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Terry Jones have all signed on to do the movie Absolutely Anything. It is rumored and Moviefone is reporting Eric Idle may join the cast as well.

The movie is set to shoot this summer in England and Robin Williams is also to be in the film. The Monty Python members say it is not really a Monty Python film but for fans of the group, our hopes are high.

It seems to be a success to have two songs from the same genre going against each other. The winner from week 5 is the song from the Poseidon Adventure. This week we will pit two of the classic comedy or specialty tunes against each other.

Contestant number one is “The Streak.” Released in 1974, it caught on like wildfire. It was recorded by Ray Stevens and hit top 40 radio like crazy.

Contestant number 2 is “Disco Duck,” from radio personality Rick Dees. This is a song that epitomizes the comic one hit wonder and after watching the clip it might be the song that killed disco.

Both songs were incredibly popular and both are still remembered today, but is there one that you hate to love?

I was reminded today by my friend Michael that it is the anniversary of the passing of John Belushi. People that are younger than I, cannot imagine what a remarkable talent this guy was. But also we remember what a mess he was. For those that read the biography, Wired, we just could not understand how a guy with so much talent could be so messed up.

While I hate that John had the personal problems that he had, few can argue with the talent. He was a leading funny man as in Animal House. He also could play the straight guy as he did in the movie Neighbors. He was also an incredible musical stage presence as was evident by the Blues Brothers and his Joe Cocker impersonation.

Belushi was aslo a cultural phenomenon. The Toga Party lived for the decade of the eighties as well as other scenes from his movies and life, at college campuses and in struggling rock bands, band houses. Hey, it was the eighties and we had Ronald Regan and no worries. Shortly after Belushi’s death, I was the music director for a high school tribute to the Blues Brothers which is still one of my most cherished memories.

I still own most of the stuff the Blues Brothers ever recorded as well the Special Edition of Animal House. The bottom line is Belushi was gone too soon but I miss him every year.

Well, it is almost that time again. Time for the big game of whose name I can’t even say for fear of a legal team swooping down on me with some legal whoopass from the NFL office. As everyone knows, many people watch it as much for the game as for the funny commercials. However, now many commercials are marketed directly to the Internet. Some with more adult themes, and many that are down right hilarious.

My brother and I recently were trading some Internet stuff and he turned me on to some commercials that are very funny and may get you ready for the marketing madness to come during the big game. Here is the first one he turned me onto.

Now certainly condom commercials can be funny and controversial. I was searching for one that I thought was funny using condoms as balloon animals but then I came upon this one and it was much funnier.

I hope these made you laugh as you get ready for the big game, whether you watch for the game or for the commercials.